The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that the agency has still funds worth over Php1-billion for the Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program for displaced overseas Filipino workers.
Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a PNA report that so far, they have spent about Php1.4-billion out of the Php2.5 million budget for the AKAP cash assistance program.
“So we received a total of Php2.5-billion. So far, we have paid 145,000 OFWs that amounts to about Php1.4-billion. We still have about Php1.1-billion,” Bello added.
The Php1.5-billion initial budget has assisted some 150,000 OFWs.
So far, they have received more than 450,000 application forms from OFWs onsite and those who have returned in the country, prompting them to ask for additional budget.
Under the program, displaced OFWs can get one-time USD200 or Php10,000 cash aid.
